Stateless Server-Based Encryption Associated with a Distribution List

Abstract

An example method of decrypting electronic messages includes receiving, by an authentication module of a decryptor device, authentication requests from a plurality of destination clients. The method also includes receiving, by a decryption module of the decryptor device, encrypted electronic messages from the plurality of destination clients. The encrypted electronic messages are derived from a common electronic message sent by a common source client. The method further includes authenticating, based on an authentication table, the plurality of destination clients. The authentication table stores user credentials that are used to authenticate destination clients. The method also includes for each encrypted electronic message received from an authenticated destination client of the plurality of destination clients, decrypting the encrypted electronic message using a common private key and providing the decrypted electronic message to the authenticated destination client. The private key is stored at the decryptor device.

Description

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE[0001]The present disclosure generally relates to computing devices, and more particularly to decrypting electronic messages using a common private key.BACKGROUND[0002]Data that can be read and understood without any special measures is called plaintext or clear text. Disguising plaintext in such a way as to hide its substance is called encryption. Encrypting plaintext results in unreadable gibberish called cipher-text. A message may be encrypted to ensure that information in the message is hidden from anyone for whom it is not intended, even those who can see the encrypted data. In order for the intended recipient to be able to eventually read the message, the encrypted message is decrypted.[0003]Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption allows for securing communications end to end, but suffers from the problem that public keys for all recipients need to be known. This may be a problem in cases where the source of the message might not know all recipients, such as pu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent provides techniques for securely decrypting electronic messages. The technology allows a decryptor device to receive authentication requests from multiple destination clients and authenticate them based on a table of user credentials. The device then receives encrypted electronic messages sent by a common source client and decrypts them using a common private key. The decrypted electronic messages are only provided to authenticated destination clients to ensure secure communication. The technical effect of this invention is improved security and privacy in decryption processes.

Problems solved by technology

Encrypting plaintext results in unreadable gibberish called cipher-text.

Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) encryption allows for securing communications end to end, but suffers from the problem that public keys for all recipients need to be known.

This may be a problem in cases where the source of the message might not know all recipients, such as public distribution lists.

The recipients can share a private key, but then access may not be easily revoked without revoking the private from everyone.

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